Gynnsthetonic
Well-Known Member
The statement says they are proposing to shut the store, does that mean there trying for negotiations, I for one hope so as it is a valuable asset for the city.
IKEA Closing in Coventry (14 Viewers)
- Thread starter Nick
- Start date
Gynnsthetonic
Well-Known Member
I work in various student lodgings in the city centre as an electrician and sometimes work late and go for a meal in town, the only place I see them is in Noodle Bar. When I venture into town at weekends for food or drink especially Cathedral Lanes there is not a student in sight. Same as Cov station on a Saturday the station is packed with students leaving for the day.
pusbccfc
Well-Known Member
Really is a huge blow.
That is a mammoth building to fill.
If the council had any fucking ambition for Coventry, which we know they absolutely don't, they'd do everything possible to turn it into a big music venue packed with bars and restaurants.
A city centre venue, suitable of hosting gigs of up to 10,000 would be a game changer. I know the NEC and NIA are close but I still think there is room for another venue. Coventry is a big city with a young population. Easier for people from Northampton, MK and the such to get to than Birmingham.
That is a mammoth building to fill.
If the council had any fucking ambition for Coventry, which we know they absolutely don't, they'd do everything possible to turn it into a big music venue packed with bars and restaurants.
A city centre venue, suitable of hosting gigs of up to 10,000 would be a game changer. I know the NEC and NIA are close but I still think there is room for another venue. Coventry is a big city with a young population. Easier for people from Northampton, MK and the such to get to than Birmingham.
OffenhamSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
Do you think they would want to introduce a venue that would put their pals up the Foleshill Road out of business??
pusbccfc
Well-Known Member
Exactly that.
OffenhamSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
Jim O'Boyle was on CWR after 5 saying that the council had never sold or leased land to the universities so that they could build student accommodation. And there are conditions on the lease for the Ikea site which would prevent this from happening.
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
The universities are major employees in the area and I'm fairly sure Tata first rocked up in the area due to some tie in with Warwick.
Never understood people's objections to them.
I dont think they spend as much in the locality as they used to unfortunately but I think that's down to increased course fees and accommodation costs.
OffenhamSkyBlue
Well-Known Member
Warwick has 6000 staff and 27000 students. They can't ALL be getting on a train every weekend, surely?!
It is rumoured that the relationship between the late Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya and the Tata Motors board enticed them to buy JLR, when the latter could actually have gone bust!
It is rumoured that the relationship between the late Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya and the Tata Motors board enticed them to buy JLR, when the latter could actually have gone bust!
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
As the statement says it was an experiment
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
An experiment with a highly likely outcome of failure which many predicted.
If they wanted an 'experiment' it needed a control, like a traditional store close by to see which people preferred. The fact is we'll now been left with this massive building which is very poorly designed for a streetscape built specifically for IKEA that will be very difficult to market to others.
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
I've always wished that WAC was more central - it's a good venue with some quality acts that should've replaced stuff like the Hippodrome/Cov Theatre. This could possibly be converted for something like that but there's never been the will to try and bring something like that in.
Instead of going for arts/entertainment Coventry kept on pursuing this retail thing with Jerde/City Centre South. So many projects gone to the outskirts in much less accessible spaces forcing car use. Not just the aforementioned entertainment and football stadium but even the hospital arguably being closer to the centre would have been beneficial with easier accessibility and knock-on benefits for the city centre (of course patient care should be first priority).
chiefdave
Well-Known Member
What about the flats on what was a council run car park opposite the sports centre?
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
Wonder if they've 4ver considered giving it rent free to a big name.
Or give half of it free and sell off 6he rest as smaller units.
Know nothing about retail so could be a really stupid idea but we don't want to end up with another giant Primark surely?
Or give half of it free and sell off 6he rest as smaller units.
Know nothing about retail so could be a really stupid idea but we don't want to end up with another giant Primark surely?
chiefdave
Well-Known Member
This doesn't make sense. We're told the reason the council struggles to attract higher class, for want of a better term, retailers is lack of demand in the city. How is there a lack of demand if thousands of students are getting on a train to go and shop at those stores?
The cafes and restaurants have improved for sure but even then we're well behind other cities. We're celebrating the openings of chain restaurants years after they've opened in other cities.
D
Deleted member 5849
Guest
Don't have a problem but, like everything, it needs balance. Get it too far and fine,. the city centre's vibrant when they're there, but it'll turn into a desolate wasteland (and yeah, I appreciate you could ask what's new in that!) when they sod off for holidays.
LastGarrison
Well-Known Member
Heard a rumour this evening it is going to be turned into an ‘entertainment centre’ whatever that entails.
Can pretty much guarantee it won’t be university owned accommodation.
Can pretty much guarantee it won’t be university owned accommodation.
fernandopartridge
Well-Known Member
Brothel on the 7th floor
LastGarrison
Well-Known Member
Then we can all get fucked by the council!
Houchens Head
Fairly well known member from Malvern
All the staff can re-apply for other Ikeas, surely?
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chiefdave
Well-Known Member
What would go in there? There's already a cinema and ice rink in the Skydome. Can't imagine the police would be keen on more night clubs as there's already a fair bit of trouble in that area.
Could stick a bowling alley in there I suppose, think the only one is up by the Showcase if thats even still there. Still leaves a lot of space to fill.
Suspect long term they're going to have to knock it down and put a building more suitable there.
itsabuzzard
Well-Known Member
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Solid argument
itsabuzzard
Well-Known Member
eastwoodsdustman
Well-Known Member
I bet they’d put the bogs on the top floor as well
Mcbean
Well-Known Member
Great shame for us in the South of the county - got quite a bit of IKEA stuff - as long as you accept that it wont last forever it works - most of all student places are full of it - feel sorry for the jobs lost if it comes to that - bought a couple of mattresses recently - took both back as they were too firm - no messing arguments etc - staff were great - they will struggle to fill that space like Stratford when it lost BHS - still empty and an eyesore - M6 one way too far and you have to go past Villa park
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Yours
bezzer
Well-Known Member
It does. As does driving to the one in Milton Keynes, But prefer both of them to the one in Cov.
bezzer
Well-Known Member
Your point being?
Marty
Well-Known Member
I think they'll bring it down too, nobody needs that kind of space, just make a nice green open space area, get rid of the car park outside the front of the sky dome too, and it could actually be fairly nice round there. This council will fuck it up as they haven't got a clue.
Marty
Well-Known Member
I think they must have paid a large chunk if not the full amount, £35 million it set them back
chiefdave
Well-Known Member
Well according to someone from the council this morning they've already got multiple potential tenants after it.
Philosoraptor
Well-Known Member
I think Ikea actually paid for the building but we had to assemble it for ourselves..
Easy one to start the day with.
Easy one to start the day with.